MANZEROLLE, Valmont Joseph

91 Years. Passed away peacefully on December 4, 2012. Dearest husband of Loretta (nee Thibert) for 66 years. Loving and cherished dad of Donald and Gianna (Mamolo), Raymond and Joanne (Barten). Loving pepere of Vincent and Stacy (Fortier), and Veronica. He is predeceased by his parents, Willie and Yvonne (Goguen), brother Nabor and sister Dora. Dear brother to Adrienne Manzerolle, Raoul Manzerolle and wife Edith, Roger Manzerolle and wife Donna, all of New Brunswick, Therese and husband Norman Paquet of Clinton Twp., Mi., sister-In-law Hilda Manzerolle-Parent of Windsor, Ont. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral mass was held at St. John Vianney Church with Rev. Tom Blondin officiating, followed by entombment at Heavenly Rest Cemetery.

Born in Shippagan, N.B., Val would later become a student at the Universite de St. Joseph, in Moncton, N.B., where in 1940, he made the decision to join the R.A.F./R.C.A.F. In the following two years and eight months of air operations over Britain, Sicily, Malta, Lybia, Egypt and Tunisia, Val survived 54 missions totaling 405 hours, part of the time as rear gunner and later with tactical units. In 1943, in recognition of outstanding service in several theatres of war, Flight Lieutenant Valmont Manzerolle, was awarded the golden wings with bar and thus joined a very limited number of Canadians so decorated.

In 1946, Val would meet and marry Loretta, the love of his life for 66+ years. After 30 yrs. of service, he retired in 1977 as Supervisor with Chrysler Canada. He will be remembered as a prayerful, loving, giving and gentle man, well-read, highly intellectual, with a great sense of humour, and always leading by example.

Special thanks to the Doctors and Nurses at Hotel Dieu-Grace Hospital for their compassion and care, Jessica Sylvestre and the Families First team for their counsel and guidance, Mike Karloff and Peggy Dwyer for sharing their musical talents at the funeral mass. A final, big, thank-you to Fr. Tom Blondin for officiating and delivering a beautiful homily on the power of love and the importance of family and friends. Valmont would surely concur, having repeated often, in his final days, “I Love You All”.

Memorial donations may be made by cheque to St. Vincent de Paul Society, Windsor Downtown Mission, or the charity of your choice. Share memories, photos or make a donation online at www.FamiliesFirst.ca